Bobby Cole - The dummy line

Ollie set his cup on the table, pulled out a chair, and sat down. Staring at each deputy again he said, “All right, everybody, before we make assignments, I wanna emphasize the importance of this search and ask that you stay away from the media. Don’t let your excitement cloud your judgment or your training. There’s a seventeen-year-old girl out there who needs us. Job One is to find her. Got it?”

Everyone nodded or said, “Yes sir.”

Ollie continued. “Miz Martha’s prepared some fact sheets on Elizabeth. Grab one on your way out.”

“Any questions?” Marlow interjected.

“It’s turkey season…will there be other hunters in the area?” a deputy asked.

“I don’t have a clue. It wouldn’t surprise me,” Ollie added.

“I vote we don’t let ‘em go in…if we run into any hunters wantin’ to enter the property,” the same deputy responded.

“Agreed. We don’t need the added confusion,” said Ollie. “Turn ‘em around if any show up. But don’t tell ‘em anything.”

The group nodded in unison.

“Good,” Ollie continued. “One other thing: We just got word that Tanner Tillman woke up briefly; he couldn’t speak, but when they asked where Elizabeth was, he scribbled what appeared to be a G and an A before he passed out again.”

“That could mean gate ,” one deputy commented.

“And it could mean Gainesville,” another added. “That’s not but fifteen miles away.”

“It could mean gang…or even garbage…you know the big dump is right up Highway Seventeen!” a deputy blurted excitedly.

“All true, but let’s not let our imaginations run wild. This information is not really helpful at this point. It simply adds more confusion. I believe we will eventually determine that it means the gate,” Ollie explained. He loved the group’s enthusiasm but needed them to focus.

“Everyone knows R.C., right? He and Steve Tillman have gone to look around on the property where we believe the kids were tonight. If we hear anything, we’ll pass it along. I expect a report from them soon,” Ollie added as he stood.

“One last thing…I have a man named Mick Johnson that may show up to help. He knows Crosby, and he knows the property, so let him through,” Ollie explained, watching them all write down the name.

“Zach, do you have anything?” Ollie asked kindly.

This caught Zach by surprise. He wasn’t prepared to talk. The men watched him with compassion. Ollie hoped to inspire the group with Zach’s presence.

“Please find my daughter. Please find her and bring her home,” he said with a quiver in his voice. All were clearly touched by his emotion.

“All right, gentlemen. Here is what I want everyone to do.” Ollie ran his hand over the map and began laying out his plan. The group listened to every word. Even Sheriff Marlow paid attention. For Ollie, it was like his football days when he would take over the defensive huddle and rally the team for a fourth-quarter, red-zone stand.

Jake stopped to check his map when they came to an intersection of two logging roads. He was out of breath. He knelt down, letting Katy slide off his back. He hid the light as he got his bearings. He now knew for certain where they were. The field was not very far. He clicked off the light and looked at the girls.

Elizabeth was trying to catch her breath. Katy simply studied Elizabeth.

“OK, ladies, we don’t have much farther. There’s a perfect place for us to hide and rest. Can y’all make it for ten more minutes?” he whispered.

They both nodded. Jake could tell Elizabeth was numb, mentally and physically. Katy was subdued but definitely more upbeat since her focus and concerns were now on Elizabeth. Thank God she doesn’t understand how serious all this is . He gently rubbed the top of her head reassuringly before he picked her up, grunting lightly.

Jake consciously thought about where to walk in an effort to leave the least amount of tracks. He even thought of splitting up, but that was no good. Jake didn’t want the guys chasing Elizabeth by herself, and they might not ever be able to get back together. No, they were a group and needed to stay a group, he decided. He had to protect her as well. It’s my fault she’s in this mess. Jake decided to stay on this higher ground, in the pines, and hope for the best as he made his way toward the field.

“Katy, you’ve turned into a chunk. How much do you weigh, girl?” he whispered, readjusting her weight.

“Only fifty-two pounds, Dad. Less than the dog,” she whispered back.

“I think you’ve put on some weight in the last few hours,” he quietly grunted.

“Dad, I’ll walk…let me walk.”

“No, no. It’s muddy and there are sharp sticks and pine cones. This is better, trust me. I’m fine. Just don’t ever let me forget your boots again, okay?”

“OK.” She giggled.

“You still have Cheddar?”

“Oh, yeah.” She held the Beanie Baby in front of his eyes, temporarily blocking his vision.

“Good. I don’t wanna have to go back and look for him somewhere.”

“And I’d make you,” Katy said smartly, momentarily forgetting their circumstances.

“I know you would,” Jake replied.

She grabbed his head and put her lips right next to his ear and said, “I’m gonna give him to Elizabeth when we get outta here. He’s a good-luck charm. I think she needs some good luck.”

“That’s a great idea,” he whispered as he snaked his way through the dense trees. Glancing over his shoulder, he could see Elizabeth with her crude crutch and that the cushion was still on the bottom of the gun barrel.

Jake tried to think through potential outcomes to their situation. He wondered if Mick understood his call for help. He reached into his vest for his cell phone, found it, and punched a key to light it. No service. Damn it! He hated cell phones. He jammed it back in his pocket and kept walking. I should’ve tried to call back from that same spot, he thought, cursing himself. I panicked . Even if Mick didn’t hear enough of Jake’s call to alert the authorities, surely somebody would miss Elizabeth and her boyfriend. They aren’t old enough to stay out all night. Would their folks even know where to look? Probably not, he realized. Just keep walking; it’ll come to you .

Scott Littlepage called the bell captain and had his Toyota Land Cruiser brought down from the parking garage. He was standing outside waiting when it arrived. Throwing the luggage in the back, he left the Beau Rivage Resort and Casino without even checking out. He was in shock, stunned. Kidnapped? He still had too much whiskey in his system.

Plugging his cell phone into the cigarette lighter, he thought about whom he should call. I need to check on the kids, I should try Jake, and I need to call the hospital back to check on Lindsay. I probably oughta call Lindsay’s mother, too-but what do I tell her? I’ll wait until I know more before I call her.

“This is just un-freakin’-believable! Kidnapped?” he said aloud as he clicked on the emergency flashers and punched the gas. Heading west on Interstate 10, Scott drove as fast as he ever had in his life. He then turned north on Highway 49 and into the rolling timberlands of southern Mississippi. He’d be there in a few hours. If he got stopped, he could explain-they could verify his story-he prayed.